Jackie Collins Dies at 77

"It is with tremendous sadness that we announce the death of our beautiful, dynamic and one of a kind mother, Jackie Collins, who died of breast cancer today," the Collins family said in a statement. "She lived a wonderfully full life and was adored by her family, friends and the millions of readers who she has been entertaining for over four decades. She was a true inspiration, a trailblazer for women in fiction and a creative force. She will live on through her characters but we already miss her beyond words."

Collins was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer six-and-a-half years ago, but chose not to disclose her illness to most, excluding her three daughters. Only a few days prior to her death, on Sept. 14, Collins opened up about her battle with cancer and not letting it get in the way of how she wanted to live her life.

"Looking back, I'm not sorry about anything I did," she told People. "I did it my way, as Frank Sinatra would say. I've written five books since the diagnosis, I've lived my life, I've travelled all over the world, I have not turned down book tours and no one has ever known until now when I feel as though I should come out with it."

Throughout her career, Collins sold more than 500 million copies of her 32 novels, eight of which were adapted for television or film. Perhaps her most famous work was Hollywood Wives, which Aaron Spelling turned into a hugely popular 1985 ABC miniseries.

Collins is survived by her sister, Dynasty star Joan Collins, and daughters, Tracy, Tiffany and Rory.